Mono allows .NET apps to run on Linux and Mac

Mono is an open-source runtime enabling .Net-based applications to run on Linux, Mac OS X, and Unix and featuring capabilities for a number of .Net technologies.

Considered a major upgrade, the open source Mono runtime leverages Microsoft’s .Net Framework programming model. With Mono, developers can build desktop and server applications using Microsoft-based environments and deploy them across multiple platforms, including Windows. Novell is leading the Mono effort.”

SynapseIndia’s CEO Shamit Khemka appreciates the statement given by Miguel de Icaza, vice president of developer platforms at Novell and Mono project maintainer that “The existing apps you build on Windows, you can now run those applications on Linux or MacOS 10. Different people have different reasons for doing so,” such as platform consolidation.

Mono is intended to help more applications be moved to Linux and help developers reach a larger market. “From our position, we want more developers to be able to start deploying their third-party applications on Linux. We want to enrich the Linux ecosystem,” de Icaza said.

Mono was built using Microsoft documentation pertaining to the .Net engine and languages, which are ISO standards, de Icaza said.The Mono project itself was begun in 2001.